September 28, 2025

Using Smart Access Memory with Ryzen 7 7500F and RX 6900XT

Learn how to enable Smart Access Memory with a Ryzen 7 7500F CPU and RX 6900XT GPU setup.

What you’ll build / learn

In this tutorial, you will learn how to enable Smart Access Memory (SAM) on your desktop computer equipped with a Ryzen 7 7500F CPU and an RX 6900XT GPU. SAM is a feature that allows the CPU to access the GPU memory more efficiently, leading to improved performance in various applications, especially in gaming. By the end of this guide, you will understand the prerequisites for enabling SAM, the step-by-step process to activate it, and best practices to ensure optimal performance.

You will also learn about common pitfalls that users might encounter when attempting to enable SAM and how to troubleshoot these issues. Additionally, we will discuss alternative methods to achieve similar performance enhancements and what the community thinks about SAM’s effectiveness. This comprehensive guide aims to equip you with all the knowledge needed to successfully implement SAM in your system.

Why it matters

Smart Access Memory is an important feature for users of AMD hardware, particularly those with Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs. By allowing the CPU to access the full GPU memory, SAM can lead to significant performance gains, particularly in gaming scenarios where high frame rates and low latency are crucial. As games become more demanding, having the ability to maximise the performance of your hardware can make a noticeable difference in your gaming experience.

Furthermore, SAM is part of AMD’s broader strategy to enhance the performance of their hardware ecosystem. By optimising the interaction between the CPU and GPU, AMD aims to provide users with a competitive edge in gaming and other resource-intensive tasks. Understanding and utilising SAM can help users get the most value from their investments in AMD technology.

In addition to performance benefits, enabling SAM can also improve system responsiveness and overall user experience. By reducing the time it takes for the CPU to access data from the GPU memory, users may notice smoother gameplay, faster load times, and a more enjoyable computing experience overall.

Prerequisites

Before you can enable Smart Access Memory, there are several prerequisites that you need to meet. First and foremost, you must have a compatible AMD Ryzen CPU, such as the Ryzen 7 7500F, which supports SAM. Additionally, your graphics card must be an AMD Radeon GPU, specifically the RX 6900XT in this case, which also supports this feature.

Your motherboard is another critical component. It must be compatible with SAM, which typically means it should be based on the AMD 500 series chipset or newer. Ensure that your motherboard’s BIOS is updated to the latest version, as manufacturers often release updates that enable new features like SAM.

Lastly, you will need to ensure that you are running a supported operating system, such as Windows 10 or Windows 11. Having the latest updates installed can also help ensure compatibility and performance improvements, making it easier to enable and utilise SAM effectively.

Step-by-step

Check your hardware compatibility. Ensure you have a Ryzen 7 7500F CPU and an RX 6900XT GPU. Verify that your motherboard is based on the AMD 500 series chipset or newer.
Update your motherboard’s BIOS. Visit the manufacturer’s website, download the latest BIOS version, and follow their instructions to update your motherboard.
Install the latest version of the AMD Radeon Software. This software is essential for managing your GPU settings and enabling SAM.
Open the AMD Radeon Software and navigate to the ‘Settings’ menu. Look for the ‘Gaming’ tab to access game-specific settings.
In the ‘Gaming’ section, locate the ‘Advanced’ settings. Here, you will find the option to enable Smart Access Memory.
Toggle the Smart Access Memory option to ‘On’. This will allow the CPU to access the GPU memory directly.
Save your settings and exit the AMD Radeon Software. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
After rebooting, open a game or application that supports SAM to test the performance improvements. Monitor your frame rates and overall performance to see the benefits of enabling SAM.

Best practices & security

When enabling Smart Access Memory, it is important to follow best practices to ensure optimal performance and security. First, always keep your BIOS and drivers up to date. Manufacturers frequently release updates that can improve compatibility and performance, so regularly check for updates from your motherboard and GPU manufacturers.

Additionally, monitor your system temperatures after enabling SAM. Enhanced performance can sometimes lead to increased heat output, so ensure your cooling solution is adequate to prevent overheating. Consider using monitoring software to keep an eye on CPU and GPU temperatures during intensive tasks.

Finally, be cautious when adjusting settings in your BIOS. While enabling SAM is generally safe, other BIOS settings can affect system stability. If you are unsure about certain settings, consult your motherboard’s manual or seek advice from the community.

Common pitfalls & troubleshooting

While enabling Smart Access Memory can lead to significant performance improvements, there are common pitfalls that users may encounter. One of the most frequent issues is compatibility. Ensure that your motherboard, CPU, and GPU all support SAM. If you experience problems, double-check the specifications of each component.

Another common issue is related to BIOS settings. Users may forget to enable the Resizable BAR feature, which is necessary for SAM to function. Ensure that this setting is enabled in the BIOS, as it allows the CPU to access the full GPU memory range.

If you encounter performance issues after enabling SAM, consider disabling it temporarily to see if the problems persist. Some applications may not be optimised for SAM, leading to unexpected performance drops. Testing with and without SAM can help determine if it is the source of the issue.

Alternatives & trade-offs

Alternative	Performance Impact	Compatibility
Resizable BAR	Moderate	Requires compatible hardware
DLSS (NVIDIA)	High	NVIDIA GPUs only
FidelityFX Super Resolution	High	AMD GPUs only

While Smart Access Memory offers significant performance improvements, there are alternatives worth considering. Resizable BAR is a similar feature that allows the CPU to access GPU memory more efficiently, but it requires compatible hardware. On the other hand, NVIDIA users can take advantage of DLSS, which can dramatically enhance performance in supported games but is limited to NVIDIA GPUs.

FidelityFX Super Resolution is another option for AMD users, providing high-performance upscaling for games. Each of these alternatives has its trade-offs, and users should consider their specific hardware and gaming preferences when deciding which feature to enable.

What the community says

The community response to Smart Access Memory has been largely positive, with many users reporting noticeable performance improvements in gaming and other applications. Gamers have shared their experiences on forums and social media, highlighting the benefits of enabling SAM, particularly in demanding titles.

Overall, the community views SAM as a valuable feature for those using compatible AMD hardware, and many recommend enabling it to maximise performance.

FAQ

Q: What is Smart Access Memory?A: Smart Access Memory (SAM) is a feature that allows AMD Ryzen CPUs to access the full GPU memory directly, improving performance in various applications, especially in gaming.

Q: Do I need specific hardware to use SAM?A: Yes, you need a compatible AMD Ryzen CPU, an AMD Radeon GPU, and a motherboard that supports SAM, typically based on the AMD 500 series chipset or newer.

Q: How do I enable SAM?A: To enable SAM, update your motherboard’s BIOS, install the latest AMD Radeon Software, and toggle the SAM option in the gaming settings of the software.

Q: Can I disable SAM if I encounter issues?A: Yes, you can disable SAM in the AMD Radeon Software. If you experience performance issues, testing with SAM off can help determine if it is the cause.

Q: Is SAM safe to enable?A: Enabling SAM is generally safe, but it is important to keep your BIOS and drivers updated and monitor system temperatures to prevent overheating.

Q: What are the performance benefits of SAM?A: Users have reported significant performance improvements in gaming, including higher frame rates and reduced latency, resulting in a smoother gaming experience.

Source

For additional insights and community discussions, visit the source: Reddit AMD Help.